The Road to I Do

Relationships, whether short-lived or long-lasting, are a journey. They take a deep understanding of each other, a strong commitment in spite of difficulties and a hope for the future.

We’ve surveyed 2,057 men and women across the United States to better understand the steps a couple takes from their first kiss to exchanging wedding vows.

Those interviewed were all older than 18 and split into two groups: married and unmarried. The 1,027 individuals who were single or dating were asked the most relevant modern dating questions, while the 1,030 newlyweds answered questions about their wedding and life after “I Do”. Together, they tell the story of the road to a lifetime of love and what to expect while you’re traveling on it.

Answer the series of questions below and see where your responses lie in relation to the national average to get some perspective on your unique “Road to I Do”.

How’s Your Love Life?

Are you tired of hearing that question? When it comes to dating, there is no right way to answer this. Are you looking
for something low-key or trying to find “the one”? Does “the one” even exist?

In your dating life, do you think you’ll find “the one”?

1/4

You and

62%

of people in the U.S. are optimistic about finding the one.

You are a firm believer that the right person will come
along and sweep you off your feet. It’s just a matter of time!

2/4

You and

38%

of people in the U.S. don’t believe in “the one.”

You believe that finding a great match is something that requires more than fate.

3/4

One thing men and women can agree on is the likelihood of finding “the one”.

64%

60%

64% of males believe they’ll find the one while 60% of females think they will.

Keep on looking and you just might run into that person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with.

4/4

How long do you take to text back?

With advances in technology come changes in the rules of dating. The old rule of waiting three days after a date to call has become outdated. Sending a meme or a text every half hour has become more of the norm. But how long should you wait to reach out? You want to seem interested, but not too eager.

It turns out responding quickly is the new norm. 82% of people respond in under an hour

..and 1 in 4 people respond to a text immediately.

1/1

Are you social media official?

Social media has become an important part of relationships. Whether it’s looking up someone’s Instagram after meeting through a dating app or making your relationship official on Facebook, social media has a lot of influence in many of today’s relationships.

How long do you wait before posting a photo of the person you’re dating on social media?

1/7

You and

21%

of people in the U.S. post a photo in under a month. They dive head first into their relationship and want to share their new significant other with all of their followers.

2/7

You and

31%

of people wait 1–3 months before posting a photo of their S.O. They don’t want to jinx the new relationship and worry about posting too early.

3/7

You and

14%

of people post 3–6 months after they’ve started dating. These people have weathered a season with their S.O. and are ready to spend many more with them.

4/7

You and

11%

of people will post a photo 6–12 months after they started dating. Very few people seem to care about waiting for the sixmonth mark to let the digital world know about their relationship.

5/7

You and

23%

of people wait at least a year before posting a photo of someone their dating. Social media may not be the most important method of sharing big news with friends and family.

6/7

21%

of people in the U.S. post a photo in under a month. They dive head first into their relationship and want to share their new significant other with their followers.

31%

of people wait 1–3 months before posting a photo of their S.O. They may be cautious of posting too early.

14%

of people post 3–6 months after they’ve start dating. These people have weathered through a season and are ready to spend many more with this person.

11%

of people will post a photo after 6–12 months after they started dating. Very few seem to care about waiting for the six month mark.

23%

of people wait a year or more before posting a photo of someone they're dating. Social media may not be the most important method of sharing big news with friends and family.

*Data reflects respondents ages 18–44.

7/7

First comes love, then comes marriage…

As your relationship progresses the question of marriage is bound to arise. The longer the two of you are together, the more likely it is that the topic will come up.

How long should you date before getting married?

1/13

You and

27%

of married couples were dating with marriage in mind, getting married after a year or less.

2/13

You and

29%

of people got married after 1–2 years of dating.

3/13

You and

25%

of people dated for 2–4 years before marriage.

4/13

You and

20%

of people take their time and date for 5+ years before tying the knot.

5/13

27%

of married couples were dating with marriage in mind, getting married after a year or less.

29%

of people got married after 1–2 years of dating.

25%

of people dated for 2–4 years before marriage.

20%

of people take their time and date for 5+ years before tying the knot.

6/13

How long of an engagement do people have?

7/13

You and

31%

of respondents had an engagement that was under six months.

8/13

You and

43%

of people recorded having an engagement that lasted six months to a year.

9/13

You and

20%

of people had an engagement that lasted 1–2 years.

10/13

You and

4%

of couples spent 2–4 years engaged.

11/13

You and

3%

of couples had a long engagement of 5+ years.

12/13

31%

of respondents had an engagement that was under six months.

43%

of people recorded having an engagement that lasted six months to a year.

20%

had an engagement that lasted 1–2 years.

4%

spent 2–4 years engaged.

3%

had a long engagement of 5+ years.

13/13

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes: from intimate backyard affairs to island destination getaways to traditional or religious ceremonies. Each wedding is different, but what do people typically spend on a wedding?

How much do most people spend on their wedding?

1/6

You and

7%

of newlyweds reported that they didn’t have a wedding. Eloping is the cheapest option and so these people had more to potentially spend on their honeymoon.

2/6

You and

53%

of married couples spent $10,000 or less on their wedding. Of those that spent $10,000 or less on their wedding, 46% had less than 50 guests and 27% had 50–100 guests. The smaller the wedding, the easier it is to save.

3/6

You and

28%

of couples spent $10,000–$20,000 on their wedding and when looking at the number of guests they invited, 40% had more than 100 guests.

4/6

You and

10%

spent more than $20,000 on their wedding and surprisingly 48% of them invited 100–200 people to their wedding, showing that you can still splurge with a smaller guest list.

5/6

7%

of newlyweds reported that they didn’t have a wedding. Eloping is the cheapest option and these people had more to spend on their honeymoon.

53%

of married couples spent $10,000 or less on their wedding. Of those that spent $10,000 or less on their wedding, 47% had less than 50 guests and 27% had 50–100 guests. The smaller the wedding, the less you typically spend.

28%

of couples spent $10,000-$20,000 on their wedding and when looking at the number of guests they invited, 40% had more than 100 guests.

10%

spent more than $20,000 on their wedding and surprisingly 48% of them invited 100–200 people to their wedding, showing that you can still splurge with a smaller guest list.

6/6

Although money will be spent to make the occasion a memorable one, what matters most is surrounding yourself with friends
and family on the big day.

How long did you know your best man/maid of honor?

1/7

You and

1%

of married couples knew their best man/maid of honor for less than a year.

2/7

You and

9%

of married couples knew their best man/maid of honor for 1–5 years.

3/7

You and

9%

of married couples knew their best man/maid of honor for 5–10 years.

4/7

You and

55%

of married couples knew their best man/maid of honor for 10+ years.

5/7

You and

26%

of married couples didn’t have a best man or maid of honor.

6/7

2%

of grooms knew their best man for less than a year.

9%

of grooms knew their best man for 1–5 years.

8%

of grooms knew their best man for 5–10 years.

58%

of grooms knew their best man for 10+ years.

23%

23%

of grooms didn't have a best man.

1%

knew their maid of honor for less than a year.

9%

knew their maid of honor for 1–5 years.

9%

knew their maid of honor for 5–10 years.

53%

53%

knew their maid of honor for 10+ years.

29%

didn't have a maid of honor.

7/7

Your marriage is the beginning of a new chapter in your love story. Married couples cultivate their love alive in many different ways, from small gifts of appreciation to scheduled date nights.

How often do married couples make gestures to show that they care?

How often do married couples have date night?

1/7

You and

43%

say whenever they remember.

2/7

You and

14%

try to plan for one night a month.

3/7

You and

19%

shoot for multiple times per month.

4/7

You and

19%

have a set schedule of once per week.

5/7

You and

6%

make sure to go out multiple times per week.

6/7

43%

When we remember

Life happens and you can’t always plan everything.

14%

One a month

Busy but can plan for at least one night a month.

9%

Multiple a month

No set schedule but able to fit in a few each month.

18%

One a week

Have a set schedule of one a week.

6%

Multiple times a week

Making dates a weekly priority.

7/7

A grand gesture isn’t always needed to show that you care. Sometimes all it takes are those three little words.

How often do married couples say “I love you” to their partner?

Get ready to swoon.

1/3

69%

of married people say “I love you” to their partner once a day or more!

2/3

42%

of men say “I love you” to their partner
multiple times a day.

28%

of men say “I love you” to their partner
at least once a day.

14%

of men say “I love you” to their partner
multiple times a week.

16%

of men say “I love you” to their partner
at least once a week.

39%

of women say “I love you” to their partner
multiple times a day.

30%

of women say “I love you” to their partner
at least once a day.

11%

of women say “I love you” to their partner
multiple times a week.

21%

of women say “I love you” to their partner
at least once a week.

3/3

A lifelong partner offers the kind of love and support that is unparalleled and irreplaceable. From the first text you send to the first home you buy together, it comes down to finding someone that’s willing to stand by your side and go through it all with you.

Category

Related

Written by Shutterfly

&starf; Lifestyle Expert

As your go-to expert for everything one of a kind, Shutterfly is here to help you capture and share life’s most important moments. Find thoughtful gifts, creative ideas and endless inspiration to create meaningful memories with family and friends. Contribute your own ideas and projects to share the joy with our Shutterfly community.